香港六合彩

In a new policy briefing by a group of academic experts from the COP26 Universities Network, the authors emphasize that the impacts of climate change, and the policy measures implemented to mitigate them, vary greatly depending on place, time and social contexts.

The authors stress the importance of policy being developed in partnership with communities, to help ensure that the costs and benefits of ambitious climate action are shared in a fair and equitable way.

Dr Tom Pegram (香港六合彩 Political Science), co-lead author of the briefing, said: 鈥淭he individuals, households and communities that stand to be most negatively affected by decarbonisation policies are often already losing out in existing socio-economic arrangements.

鈥淲ith current pandemic policies disproportionately affecting low-skilled workers, minorities, women and other vulnerable groups, Covid-19 has served as a stark reminder that socio-economic disruptions tend to worsen existing social inequalities. We must not make the same mistake with decarbonisation policies, but ensure that we utilise the opportunity to steer societies towards both a more ecologically and socially inclusive path.鈥�

The paper identifies five 鈥渂lind spots鈥� in the current debate around decarbonisation:

• Job creation per se does not deliver 鈥榡ust鈥� outcomes; the types of jobs, what they pay, and how secure they are matters
• The effects of climate change and related policy responses will be experienced differently; effects are felt differently across genders, ethnicities, class and age, as well as geography
• A just transition will look very different in a developing country context; additional support is needed for developing countries, whose growth and employment rates remain closely linked with carbon emissions
• Social backlash is likely if the transition is not perceived to be just; stakeholder voices need to be heard in discussion and decision making, creating 鈥榩olicy shapers鈥� rather than passive 鈥榩olicy takers鈥�
• Businesses and investors can help mitigate negative social impacts of the transition; public and private- sector firms will be key partners in implementing socially inclusive decarbonisation policies.

Whilst the group emphasise that there is there is no 鈥榮ilver bullet鈥� approach to delivering a just transition to net zero, they identify a number of tools for policymakers to meet targets whilst also upholding social justice. These include shifts in energy production and distribution patterns towards more local, community-led energy initiatives, a greater focus on democratic engagement platforms, such as Citizen Assemblies, and independent / interdisciplinary research across climate, energy and environmental justice to inform effective policy, as well as the establishment of independent advisory bodies.听

Professor Simone Abram (University of Durham), co-lead author on the briefing, said: 鈥淒uring the pandemic, emergency policies have given us a glimpse of how clean air and a drop in traffic congestion can improve everyone鈥檚 quality of life, but the uneven access to services and inequalities in employment have revealed how differently climate and economic impacts are experienced. We are seeing a collapse in certain industries, such as aviation, while the benefits of remote, low-carbon working go primarily to already advantaged groups.

鈥淔uture decarbonisation might be expensive in the short term for manufacturing industries and transport services, even if the longer-term benefits are enormous, so now is the time to rethink our goals. Given the scale and urgency of the changes we need, we have to stay focused on the need to ensure that the benefits of the transition to a low carbon economy can be shared by all.鈥�

The briefing paper is the second by the COP26 Universities Network to be published ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, which will be held in Glasgow in November 2021. Established in 2020, the Network aims to听improve access to evidence and academic expertise for the UK Government, NGOs and the international community,听working together to help deliver ambitious climate change outcomes.听

尝颈苍办蝉听

鈥� Read the full briefing paper听
鈥�
鈥� 香港六合彩 Political Science
鈥� 香港六合彩 Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences
鈥�

Image

鈥� Image Source:

Media contact听
Evie Calder

Tel: +44 20 7679 8557
E: e.calder [at] ucl.ac.uk